A REAL LIFE WARRIOR!

Today’s special guest is Makayla Redmon. 

Makayla is an aspiring author, the creator and Editor in Chief of Piixie Dust Magazine, she is thirteen, and a true warrior!
 . 

The meaning for warrior is simple: a person engaged in, experienced in, or devoted to war.  

Well that is Makayla. She has been on the front-line of a horrific battle, not once, but twice. 

 *Warning* Have tissue in hand when watching the video.

1) Hi Makayla, please introduce yourself and tell us what life is like for you. Where you live, what challenges you face, and your future goals.                                                                                

Hey, everybody. My name is Makayla Redmon, I am 13 years old, and I just found out that for the second time, I am in remission from having Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer!

 I was diagnosed in January of 2012, while residing in New York, where my Dad was stationed due to being a United States Marine.  My family and I currently live in California.  My dad is stationed at Camp Pendleton.

 After diagnosis, I received Chemotherapy treatment, which ended in April 2012, and Radiation treatment, which ended in July 2012, one day before my Birthday. 

After that, in August 2012, I found out I was in remission and got my medi-port removed! Very exciting time until the black rain cloud came back over me, just 2 months later and found out that one of the slowest working cancers out there hit me with a vengeance, again! This time it was worse and in my bone marrow. I was re-diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in October 2012 and had another medi-port inserted in my chest.

 From October 2012 to July 2013, I received several different types of chemotherapy and it seemed hopeless.  In July 2013, my cancer got really bad and there was only one really harsh chemo left to try, called I.C.E. chemo, the letters stand for the different types of chemo medication.  

 I received it for 7 days straight, in-patient, then had a week off and did another 7 days.  I waited for testing to see if it worked.  You see, all this chemo I was getting was to get the cancer gone enough for me to get my bone marrow transplant, and nothing was working… until the I.C.E. Chemo!

Yes you heard it, it worked. So on July 18^th, I was admitted to the BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant) wing of the hospital and received my own Stem Cells on July 31^st.  I had to celebrate my birthday here in BMT too. Needless to say we found out in September of 2013 that I am back in remission!

Unfortunately, during my stay in BMT, I got VOD; it is a liver disease that some kids get after receiving stem cells.  It got so bad that they inserted another medi-port in my arm and sent me down to PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), put me to sleep, and put me on life support for 8 days. 

During that time, they did dialysis to remove the fluid from my lungs.  As of today, I have been in BMT for 3 months, still having some problems with fluid in my lungs, but nothing major, back problems from being in bed and re-learning to walk.  I was told by the doctors, I SHOULD BE GOING HOME THIS WEEK!!!!  WHOOHOO!!!

I feel this video best describes what I am going through!

 

2) You run a magazine, congratulations! What inspired you to create this magazine, and why Piixie Dust Magazine? Is there a meaning behind the name?

Well Sass, no there is not a meaning behind the name but kind of a story, if you don’t mind me telling it. I’ve always loved faeries; I just thought they were so beautiful, delicate, sweet, and interesting little creatures. I loved how they would dance, sing, the food they ate, the life they lived, but most of all I loved there gorgeous wings. There wings are all different and each has a beautiful design. As you see I love faeries, but the thing is faerie were so over rated, so the next best thing was pixies! But… Pixie magazine, no that doesn’t sound all that interesting, I thought I wanted to change it up a bit so I changed it to piixie, this time with two I’s, but piixie magazine still not interesting enough, so I thought what has to do with faeries and pixies of course there is dust, so that is how I came up with piixie dust magazine. Pretty interesting story huh??? :)

3) Can you share your experience as an author/writer?

Of course!!! Ever since well, I started reading I’ve always wanted to create my own book, have my own characters, my own world, everything made by me, controlled by me, created by me. I started out small, writing only one page short stories, they weren’t the best, but I kept on reading, writing, and trying my best. But, I felt my best wasn’t good enough, the very first time I got a computer I searched up writing tips, writing techniques, even how to write. I learned so many things that still help me till this day. There were a couple times I wanted to give up, but my family encouraged me, so I kept on trying, eventually I got better, my hand writing and typing got better, my ELA, reading, and writing grades went up, I even started writing longer books. Now till this day, I don’t give up, I still search up how to write, techniques, and tips to help me, I even edit and critique other people’s books so that way I can get ideas, and learn different writing techniques and styles. Writing has been such a great experience for me; it is practically my life now.

4) What inspires you?

A very good question, Sass, what inspires me… First off my family inspires me, they always encourage me, the way they have different personalities, how they live life, and even their emotions it helps me in my writing. Everyday people inspire me, they help me create realistic and relatable characters, and I can take flaws and perfections all from different people and create someone new. The outside world inspires me, the different settings, the different things going on, and even how the day is if it’s a nice day, I usually think of a good event for my book, a not so nice day I think of an obstacle for the characters to go through. Those are just a few things that inspire me, there are many more, but to many to name.

5) What are your future goals?

My future goals… When I was little I wanted to be a fashion designer, but now I want to be an artist or a writer, too hard to pick just one. Some of my other future goals, are to have the best birthday ever, have my dream room, start a family with my hot husband who is either a doctor, or actor. I want to invent something new, travel to Paris France, go to the top of the Eiffel tower, eat a croissant in Paris, go shopping in Paris, meet my favorite celebrities, and much more, way too many to name.

6) What do you prefer writing? For example, fiction, nonfiction, supernatural, chick lit YA, and so on.

I would have to say I would prefer writing teen fiction, supernatural, fantasy, and romance. I like to write fantasy because I love creating an entire world of my own, you have to create an economy, laws, government, and much more. Romance is because I love hearing and writing about dating, marriage, kissing, and more. Teen fiction mostly because I’m a teen, so it’s much easier to write. Supernatural is just because it’s fun to write, all about different creatures, and their abilities.

7) What is your favorite time of day to read and or write?

I would have to say the morning for writing, because I just woke up my mind is fresh and ready to go, I just had dreams, and I could use those dreams for ideas for books or for in my books. I would have to say night time for reading, only because at night the darkness makes the light just that much better, it makes scary books scarier, and when I finally go to sleep after reading I always come up with ideas for my writing in my dreams.

8) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Paris!!! I LOVE Paris, they have the best food, it’s the city of love, I love all their accents, they have the best shopping venues, at night the Eiffel tower is beautiful, you can go on a boat while having people play songs for you, there are places everywhere for you to get a painting of you or you and a friend, and so much more.

9) For aspiring authors or future magazine creators, what advice would you give them?

Here is a very big tip, don’t go for the obvious answer, think outside the box, when writing a book you think of the first thing coming to mind, a sappy vampire romance, but if you think outside the box maybe something about an actual vampire killing people and not caring about any soul, you don’t see that anymore. So, here is my big tip, THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT GO FOR THE OBVIOUS ANSWER, IT MIGHT BE EASIER, AND JUST BECAUSE IT’S EASIER DOESN’T MEAN IT’S BETTER.

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Piixie Dust Magazine Issue 1

Makayla has a special announcement!

Piixie Dust Magazine has opening for the following positions!

Magazine advertiser
Poem of the month
Graphic advertiser
Books monthly

There are opportunities for authors to submit a sneak-peak of your latest work. 

Piixie Dust Magazine will feature a snippet of your work for a full month. It is an opportunity to share your writing with the public!

Thank you, Makayla for stopping by and sharing you life and dreams with us! 

As always, questions and comments are welcome with open minds.

Wishing you the brightest blessings,

Sass :) 

Milk Does the Body Good

Like any other morning, I shuffled my way down the hall and few stairs, while checking each bedrooms as I passed.

Nice! I thought, The boys went to work with dad, which means I get uninterrupted writing time.

The welcoming silence confirmed it. I was alone.

"Sweet," I whispered and turned on the kettle. 

While prepping my mug, I notice the empty milk jug sitting on the counter. In Canada, we have bagged milk. Knowing fore well it was my youngest, because I recalled him telling me he finished the jug while we were watching Under the Dome, but I did not care.

Nothing was going to ruin my day! It is Tuesday, and I am alone with the voices in my head!  

That's alright, at least 'Kiddo' did not leave an empty jug in the fridge. Kudos, Mom, you trained him right! I mentally praise myself while heading to the fridge.

I search the fridge.

"Darn, guess I'm going shopping today."

I take a bottle of water out of the cupboard and head to my writing area, because NOTHING is going to stop me today!

Now, the OCD in me must do things a certain way. 

 

1) Turn kettle on and prep mug

2) Let dogs outside while waiting for kettle

3) Make tea

4) Take first sip while waiting for dogs to come back in

5) Retrieve bottle of water from cupboard

6) Light candle, say prayer and create ambiance by turning on music or a form of background noise. It is the best way to block traffic and other unwanted interruptions.

7) Emails

8) Updates

9) Write! Until I notice the dust. :(

While reading an email from a fun reader, I am quickly wrapped up into her story, when, suddenly, a man snorts behind me!

No joke!

I literally scream and stumble to my feet. 

That is when Copper (my 140 something pound dog), jumps up from behind my seat while barking and backing into the chair.

It causes a domino effect!
The chair startles him more, he spins back and head-butts the chair, which causes me to back up when the chair crashes into my foot.

"Copper, it's momma!" I shout as I back into the computer stand.

Fact: I am FAR from graceful!

Luckily, I catch my laptop (by the screen) while the stand topples to the ground.  

Copper sees me, and I've see those wide eyes before, they usually occur during thunderstorms.

Damn!

"Wait," I command, while carefully placing my lifeline (laptop) onto the couch and my wide bottom onto the coffee table, which by the way, has wheels.

*shakes head* Smart like dump truck, I know. However (inserts pathetic attempt to defend self), for the record, it was not even seven in the morning!

Copper (the coward) puts his front paws onto my lap, smothers me with kisses and away we go! He takes me for a ride across the living room.

Why did this happen? Well ... yesterday, on Facebook, I foolishly welcomed Monday with open arms and not a darn thing happened! Lesson learned, and I will never welcome Monday until 9:55pm. Clearly, Under the Dome is the only reason to welcome Mondays. 

Because eventually, it will bite you in the Sass. 

Brightest blessings,

)O(

Oh ARC Readers, ARC Readers! Wherefore art thou ARC Readers.

What is an ARC?

Some may think of Noah and his floating adventure with two of each animal, but that is not the ARC this blog is about.

ARC also stands for Advance Review Copy.

Readers will receive an advance copy of an upcoming release, and in return, the reader writes an HONEST review on Amazon.  

How does an ARC different from a book purchased from a store or Amazon?
An ARC is commonly a paperback or ebook edition that is not complete — it may lack a final proofread or its cover. The truth is, even the best editors are human and could miss a small mistake. That is why a final proofread is important.

What if the reader did not like the book?

If the reader did not like it, then they write the review and rate it accordingly. It is all about honesty. With so many different perspectives, not everyone is going to like the same book. We are seeking honest reviews, and writers are thick skinned, we have to be.

Why would authors or publishers risk receiving a bad review?

Well first, they are confident that the book is well written and those who agree to read the said book will enjoy it. If they receive a majority of bad reviews, they will pull the book, fix it and try again. If they receive an outstanding amount of excellent reviews, then they know they are on the right track!

There are two ARCs available (150 copies) from two different authors!

The Ghost of Lost Eagle — Western Romance with Paranormal Elements

Mason "Tuck" Tucker meets Sass Thornton when she saves him from death in a flash flood. She dubs him "dumb-ass", a label he will hear many times as she fights against her own unwanted attraction to him.

Sass's father, Phil, owns the cattle ranch and has been keeping two secrets from his daughter. Despite her disrespect for Tuck, the father hires him to run the bunkhouse and control growing racial tension between white cowhands and Mexican vaqueros who work for him. Tuck surprises Phil with his easy, yet tough, management skill. The old man takes Tuck into his confidence, revealing a deadly truth about a killer who is terrorizing the bunkhouse residents.

Throughout the book, Tuck is haunted by the howls of a lone wolf and life-like dreams of an old Indian medicine man. The ghost wakes Tuck when he is in danger and warns the young man about a destiny he must face.

How do the ghost of Lost Eagle, the lone wolf and Tuck's newfound love connect in a life and death struggle?  What happens with the murderer in the bunkhouse?  Will Tuck leave the woman he loves to save the aunt who raised him?

The Coalition of the Supernatural (revamped) — Paranormal Romance Adventure  

Alexia Crandell is the first human to become an Enforcer for the Coalition. The Enforcers are the strongest, fastest, and most deadly of each being. Usually they are the second or third in command to the leaders of each pack, cult, group, or coven.

Within 24 hours of meeting her partners, Alexia’s understanding of the world is turned upside down, and she finds herself fighting for her life, and the right to be with a man she is forbidden to love.

Filled with vampires, necromancers, barbarians and more, this tale puts Alexia through a gauntlet of adventure, testing her trust, values and heart. While leading up to the realization of which path she must take. 

 

How to request an ARC copy?

Click on the LINK and fill out the form or add you name and email address in the comment box below. We will send you a confirmation email. 

❉Please note: By requesting an ARC copy, you agree to read the book and write a fair and honest review, posting it on Amazon.com within TWO DAYS of the publication date. ❉

GOOD FRIENDS, LIFE LESSONS AND WONDERFUL MEMORIES!

http://deansaultpopcornwriting.blogspot.ca/

The past week has been an amazing week. 

On May 2, 2013, Author Dean Sault arrived at our home as a cherished houseguest. 

Ironically, Dean brought the sun and warm temperatures with him. We experienced beautiful weather, great conversations, and some interesting adventures of our own.

A fun video of Dean cooking dinner for our family.

http://thewritersconference.com/ontario-writers-conference-html/

Together we attended The Ontario Writer’s Conference in Ajax. 

There, we met with many aspiring authors. We attended information seminars, participated in a few classes (to help us improve our craft), and enjoyed meeting with others.

http://author-stacey.blogspot.ca/

One of the most exciting moments was when we were able to finally meet with the beautiful and always pleasant Stacey Donaghy!

For well over a year, Stacey and I have been friends (via the internet), and although we live in the same province, time was never on our side when it came to personal visits.

The Devil's Punchbowl

Ironically, Dean brought the sun and warm temperatures with him. We experienced great conversations, and some interesting adventures of our own.

My youngest son and I took Dean sightseeing, to the Devil’s Punchbowl in Stoney Creek, ON.

Took the dogs for a long and enjoyable walk. Toured our village, Hamilton, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Toronto and Ajax. But, sadly, we ran out of time and were unable to tour Albion Falls. That will have to be our next visit. :)    

Some of our plans we were able to maintain, such as, focusing on a marketing strategy and searching for a great cover designer for Dean’s newest book entitled, Ghost of Lost Eagle. This book amazed me, and I can honestly say that I am officially a fan of Western Romance Paranormal! 

Ghost of Lost Eagle, will take you on a fast paced, thrilling, emotional rollercoaster! It is a story like no other I have read. It has it all! Characters you can relate with, historical values, gunfights, romance, paranormal, and, so much more.

Below is the first chapter:

*WARNING!* May contain offensive language and this story is highly addictive!

Ghost of Lost Eagle

Book one - The Sweetwater Canyon Series

By: Author Dean Sault

CHAPTER ONE

Rain seemed heavier this afternoon. Chuck, my horse, splashed steadily along the narrow path while it filled six inches deep with fast-flowing runoff. He did not like it.

“Easy boy. It’s just rain. We’ve been in hard rain before.”

Reining him out of the growing stream, I hoped firm ground covered in grass might give him better footing to settle his nerves. Steep canyon walls on either side of the trail ahead, gave me pause. In the distance, a wolf howled. The eerie wail echoed off nearby granite.

“Whoa, boy.”

Sitting high in the saddle, I listened intently through the steady din of the storm. Then, I heard it. A rumbling noise grew from the ground all around us. I yanked Chuck’s reins, turning us back down the trail.

“Hee’yah!”

Muscles of my stallion swelled beneath my thighs. He galloped down the pass having heard the danger before me. Good thing he resisted my coaxing.

We blasted at a dead run past saplings growing on either side of the streambed. Some stung when they slapped my legs, but Chuck knew instinctively what he was doing. I loosened his reins giving him his head. Less than two hundreds yards ahead, safety beckoned in the form of a wide spot with gradual slopes on both sides where we could climb out of this gorge.

I chanced a quick look over my shoulder. Churning water raced toward us with incredible speed. Small trees tumbled in the center of a churning, twenty-foot-high flash flood. Water filled with debris coursed through the canyon. Our only escape? Outrun it to those slopes.

“Gid’up, Chuck!” I shouted, jamming my heels into his sides to urge more speed out of my magnificent steed.

The wide spot approached fast. Only a few dozen more yards.

Water wrapped around my horse’s legs. He high-stepped, but it quickly surged above his knees taking his balance. We tumbled forward, vanishing under the brown floodwater filled with tumbling branches. Up versus down was impossible to know under the dark water. My shoulder slammed into something hard jarring the breath out of me.

My lungs screaming for relief when I saw daylight and gulped a welcome load of fresh air. Chuck’s legs stuck out of the water on the opposite side of the flood. He thrashed wildly, trying to roll over.

Sharp pain spread through my ribs when a thick tree limb jammed into my side. Each time I surfaced, Chuck was nowhere to be seen. Sanctuary of the intended slopes passed with violent currents sweeping me helplessly toward the mouth of the box canyon.

Awareness hit suddenly. Entering this gorge, we weaved up a boulder-strewn rise that would now be a deadly drop off. This water would crash over that fall with bone breaking force, carrying us with it.

My foot wedged between rocks below the water and the powerful current slammed me painfully against the gulch floor. Pinned to the bottom by water pressure, each movement trying to pull my leg free forced my boot deeper into the tight slot. Lungs burned for air. Vision narrowed. I came close to passing out when a hand appeared before my face. I grabbed it. The hand slid past my fingers to grip my wrist with amazing strength. The strong arm pulled me upright against the current. My ankle popped free.

Breaking above the surface, I gulped air in desperate relief.

The strong hand that saved me was nowhere to be seen. I wrapped my arms around a large tree riding above the rest of the debris. Pulling onto it, I straddled the thick trunk. The growing roar of water crashing over the drop-off confirmed my fears. Disaster was close at hand.

Something flashed across my vision. It jerked me backward by the neck, tearing me from the false safety of my log. I grabbed the rope that tightened around my throat, pulling with all my strength to loosen the choking noose. It dragged me against the current toward the shallows where I felt rocks knocking against the back of my legs. I dug my heels into sand, but the rope did not relent until dragging me out of the water onto heavy gravel of the shore.

Tension let up in the rope. The coil fell loose on my shoulders and my rescuer flipped the loop over my head. I coughed up water while rubbing rope rash on my neck.

“You always this stupid, mister?” a female voice asked, dripping with contempt.

I looked up at a small woman sitting on a quarter horse. She untied her lasso rope from the saddle horn.

“Good thing I roped you with my first throw. If I missed, there wouldn’t be much left of you on those rocks.”

She pointed at the nearby top of the waterfall as I rolled onto my knees.

“Thank you,” I said, still coughing up water.

I looked for Chuck.

“Have you seen my horse?”

“Over there.”

She pointed across the surging water. Chuck’s front legs draped over a spit of rock protruding into the raging water. His rear legs found footholds somewhere beneath the roiling torrent. He hung on in desperation.

“He’ll be okay,” she continued. “Flash floods pass quick. Get him when it’s over.”

“Thanks.”

I didn’t know what else to say. I wobbled on bruised legs when I stood.

The young woman recoiled her rope and hung it on the saddle horn before dismounting.

“What the hell were you thinking?” she asked. “Any idiot knows better than to go up a box canyon during heavy rain, especially Lost Eagle Gulch.”

“You’re right. But, I thought—”

“Bullshit, you didn’t think at all, dumbass! That’s the problem. Could have killed yourself and your horse, much less putting me at risk to save your fool life.”

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I made a mistake. Where’s the guy who pulled me out?”

She planted her hands on her hips.

“Do I look like a guy to you? Are you blind?”

She was definitely female. Soaking wet long hair stuck to the front of her shirt. It reached almost to her waste.

“Well, no ma’am. I’m not blind. I’m talking about the hand that pulled me off the bottom.”

“I’m the only other soul up here. Nobody else roped you. I didn’t pull you with my hand. You musta sucked too much water. You’re hallucinating.”

She might be right, I thought.

“And I’m not a ma’am.  I’m a miss.”

She pointed to the water behind me.

“Five minutes. It’ll be low enough to get your horse. Good luck finding your hat. Gun’s gone, too.”

I looked down. Sure enough, my forty-four was gone from its holster.

“Dammit,” I said wiping wet hair back off my face.

The little woman began to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Can’t help you with your gun, but your hat went over the falls on the right side. Floatin’ pretty good, last I saw. Flash floods don’t run more’n a mile or so. If you get going ’fore the wind comes up, you might find it before dark.”

She enjoyed a good laugh at my expense.

Rainwater poured off the down-turned brim of her black Stetson hat in a steady stream splashing onto her chest before vanishing into red plaid fabric of her shirt. The ruddy skin color of her heavily tanned face hinted at long hours spent in the sun. Outlines of supple breasts with noticeable nipple bumps danced through clingy, wet shirt material.

“Hey cowboy—up here!” she said, pointing at her face. “Typical, asshole. Why can’t men see beyond a woman’s chest?”

She grabbed her horse’s reins, slipped a boot in the stirrup and swung onto her saddle in a smooth, experienced movement.

“Good luck finding your stuff. You’re gonna need it . . . dumbass!”

She slapped her horse with loose reins and leaned forward while the heavily-muscled cattle-working mare made quick work of the gravel slope to a trail above.

“Wait,” I yelled. “What’s your name?”